Life at Buckingham Palace... Surprises Beneath the Floors

Sky News – Artifacts have revealed some details of the daily lives of staff at Buckingham Palace, after remaining hidden beneath floors and in other parts of the building for decades.

Restoration workers at Buckingham Palace had expected to find valuable items and precious objects, but digging and floor removal instead uncovered a collection of old items, including worn-out shoes, a football pool coupon, and a ticket dating back to 1949.

These discoveries are part of a massive £370 million restoration project at the palace, which began in 2017 and includes upgrading electrical networks, heating systems, plumbing, and infrastructure. The project is scheduled to be completed next year, according to the British Daily Mail.

Among the most notable items found by workers was a ticket for a “West Drive” event organized by the Royal Household Social Club, dated April 14, 1949, and priced at six pence.

Workers also found a blank coupon for the “Leywoods” football pools from 1957, a pair of heavy, dilapidated black shoes, and an empty Silk Cut cigarette box, the brand smoked by Queen Camilla.

Restoration teams also discovered a clipping from The Standard newspaper dated 1889, listing West End theater shows, as well as pages from the Daily Express newspaper from 1966 covering Durham prison and members of the Great Train Robbery gang.

Other finds included a typewritten document from 1977 containing a timeline and instructions for a diplomatic reception hosted by Queen Elizabeth II during her Silver Jubilee year.

The document indicated that the Queen and members of the royal family would move around the ballroom “clockwise,” while assistants were asked to encourage around 350 British guests to mingle with diplomats.

The document also specified drink service times and banned smoking in several official rooms. Event rules required formal evening wear, white ties, medals, or national costumes, while female members of the royal family wore tiaras.

Other discoveries included decorative Minton ceramic tiles dating to around the mid-19th century, an old pewter jug, a bottle of Schweppes Still Malvern water, a wooden electrical distribution box, and a faded box containing six Christmas cards.